While generally benign, common warts or plantar warts can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. This can be especially true for children, who are more likely to have warts than adults.
Overview of plantar warts
Plantar warts are hard, textured growths that develop on the bottom of your feet, specifically in spots that carry the most pressure like the heels or balls.
In most cases these warts grow outward from the skin, but sometimes they can grow inward beneath a callus. Sometimes several plantar warts form together in a group, also called mosaic warts. You may also notice little black dots on your plantar warts, these are simply dried blood vessels.
Cause
Plantar warts are caused by a common virus called HPV, or human papillomavirus, which usually enters your body through a cut or sore on the foot. Like other viruses, this strain of HPV is contagious, and can often be contracted by contact with an infected source.
Plantar warts are not considered a serious condition, and treatment is not required as many go away on their own eventually.
Treatment
Although treatment is not necessary, you can find relief from the discomfort or embarrassment of plantar warts through over-the-counter treatments or by consulting with your primary care physician. Common methods include treating the affected area with a gentle acid, like salicylic acid. These acids help to slough off older skin, wearing down the layers of the wart.
Your doctor may also treat stubborn plantar warts with liquid nitrogen. Applying duct tape to the area like a bandage has also shown to be an effective remedy. In more serious instances, your doctor may surgically remove the wart.
Plantar warts vs. plantar fasciitis
While they share a common name, plantar warts differ from plantar fasciitis. Both affect the bottom of the foot, but plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammation of the tissue connecting your heel to your toes (this belt of tissue is called the plantar fascia).
Plantar fasciitis often results in a stabbing pain when you walk. This pain is worst in the morning when the tissue is stiff from sleeping, and usually lessens throughout the day as the muscles in your feet loosen up.
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